Anti-Wrinkle Bra for Sleeping

ABSTRACT

A cupless sleeping bra to minimize wrinkling between the breasts of the wearer by separating the breasts when the wearer is in a sleeping position, the bra having a pair of elastic breast bands each defining an oval portion to receive a breast, a releasable clasping mechanism, a pair of shoulder straps, and a pair of elastic cross members extending between the oval portions of the breast bands across the intra-breast area. The tensile strength of the bands is greater than the tensile strength of the cross members, such that the cross members are readily stretched and the oval portions are pulled apart to separate the breasts and tension the skin of the intra-breast area when the bra is worn.

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/020,097, filed Jul. 2, 2014, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to brassieres (bras) and more particularly relates to bras designed and structured to be worn while sleeping, the bra minimizing or eliminating skin wrinkling between the breasts. Bras are broadly defined as garments or devices that support the breasts or give a desired contour to the bust. The bra of this invention is properly deemed to be a cupless bra, there being no expanse of material extending across and retaining the forward portions and nipples of the breasts.

Bras previously developed to reduce wrinkling occurring in the intra-breast or décolletage area while the wearer is in a supine or side position, such as during sleep, often involve padded objects positioned between the breasts or have complicated structures or excessively extensive coverage, making them uncomfortable to wear. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 8,708,772 to Fernandez Cuevas, U.S. Pat. No. 8,216,023 to Donnelly et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 6,769,955 all show sleeping bras designed to prevent or reduce intra-breast wrinkling by positioning a padded member between the breasts. Such constructions have proven to be somewhat uncomfortable. Other anti-wrinkle sleeping bras address the problem of intra-breast wrinkling by pulling each breast up and over toward the opposite shoulder. U.S. Pat. No. 5,897,422 to McGee shows a bra with full cups that operates in such a manner. An example of a cupless sleeping bra is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,102,772 to Fernandez, the bra conforming to the torso of the wearing and only contacting the base of the breasts. Such a minimal design allows for too much movement of the breasts to optimally address the problem.

It is an object of this invention to provide a cupless bra that addresses the intra-breast wrinkling problem with a structure that is comfortable to wear, the bra comprising pair of elastic bands, each band almost completely encircling a breast, with the majority of the breast and nipple area not being in contact with the band. The ends of the bands are joined with a releasable fastener positioned on the back of the wearer, and are joined in the front across the intra-breast area by a pair of elastic bands.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is a cupless sleeping bra device or garment structured to minimize or eliminate wrinkling between the breasts of the wearer by controlling and separating the breasts when the wearer is in a supine or sideways sleeping position. The bra comprises a pair of straps or bands to directly receive and control movement of the breasts, a left or first breast band that receives the left breast and a right or second breast band that receives the right breast. Each band is generally constructed to have the shape of a teardrop, the forward portion generally having an oval configuration that receives the breast such that the majority of the breast extends through an open area. The band is adapted to extend around the torso of the wearer with the ends of the band coming together and joined in overlapping manner. A releasable clasping or fastening mechanism of known type joins the bands in the rear. A left side and right side shoulder strap are joined to the upper portion of each band in the front and to the bands adjacent or near the releasable fastening mechanism in the rear, such that the shoulder straps extend over the shoulders of the wearer when the device is worn. A pair of elastic cross or intra-breast members extend between the oval portions of the bands, such that the cross members are positioned across the intra-breast area when the device is worn. The bands and the cross members are made of elastic material for comfort and control, with the elastic strength of the bands being greater than the elastic strength of the cross members, such that when the bra is worn the cross members are fully stretched and the oval portions of the bands are pulled apart laterally. For comfort, each band is preferably formed as a relatively wide member. Preferably, the cross members are positioned such that the lower cross member is situated roughly on the horizontal midline of the breasts and the upper cross member is situated above the lower cross member between the upper portion of the breasts. With this structure each band substantially encircles a breast adjacent the base before extending around the torso to be joined together on the back of the wearer. The bands pull each breast laterally outward and away from the intra-breast area, thereby maintaining the skin in the intra-breast area in a flat and tensioned status.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of an embodiment of the cupless sleeping bra in an unfastened configuration.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 in the fastened configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to the drawings, an embodiment of the invention will now be described. In general, the invention is a sleeping bra designed and structured to minimize or eliminate wrinkling of the skin between the breasts of the wearer by laterally separating or tensioning the breasts in the area adjacent or near the base of base of the breasts so as to place the intra-breast skin in a stretched or tensioned status, when the wearer is in a supine or sideways position, such as occurs when sleeping. Directional terms used herein such as front, rear, upper, lower, vertical, lateral, etc., shall be taken as referencing the directional orientation when the bra is being worn and the wearer is in a standing position.

The sleeping bra device or garment 10 comprises a pair of straps or bands 20/30 to substantially encircle, contact and receive the breasts in the area adjacent or near the base of each breast, such that a separating tension can be applied to laterally separate the breasts. A left or first breast band 20 receives the left breast and a right or second breast band 30 receives the right breast. Each band 20/30 is generally constructed to have the shape or configuration of a teardrop, the front defining a loop that receives the breast therethrough and the rear defining a tail that is joined by a releasable fastener or clasping mechanism 11 of known type, such as for example the combination of hooks 12 disposed on an end 23/33 of one band 20/30 and eyelets 13 disposed on the other end 23/33 of the other band 20/30.

The left breast band 20 comprises a forward or front oval portion 21 and an overlapping rear or back portion 22 formed by overlapping the ends 23. The oval portion 21 defines an open area 24 through which the majority of the left breast will extend in uncovered manner. Thus the forward oval portion 21 comprises an upper front portion 25, a lower front portion 26 and an intra-breast or middle portion 27. When worn, oval portion 21 of the left breast band 20 substantially encircles and receives the left breast, the oval portion 21 being disposed at or adjacent and contacting the base of the left breast, with the upper front portion 25 contacting the upper portion of the breast, the lower front portion 26 contacting the lower portion of the breast, and the intra-breast portion 27 contacting the inner portion of the breast. The left breast band 20 transitions around the torso of the wearer with the ends 23 being brought together and joined such that an overlapping portion 22 is defined that is positioned on the side and back of the wearer when worn. The left breast band 20 is provided with a twist before the ends 23 are joined in the overlapping portion 22 such that opposing sides of the left breast band 20 are in face-to-face contact with each other in the overlapping portion 22 and the upper edge of one of the ends 23 becomes the lower edge of the other end 23 in the overlapping portion 22. In this manner the band 20 readily conforms to the body contours of the wearer and the inner edge of the oval portion 21 of the band 20 is angled forward and outward relative to the outer edge so as to comfortably conform to the contour of the breast.

The right breast band 30 comprises a forward or front oval portion 31 and an overlapping rear or back portion 32 formed by overlapping the ends 33. The oval portion 3 defines an open area 34 through which the majority of the right breast will extend in uncovered manner. Thus the forward oval portion 31 comprises an upper front portion 35, a lower front portion 36 and an intra-breast or middle portion 37. When worn, oval portion 31 of the right breast band 30 substantially encircles and receives the right breast, the oval portion 31 being disposed at or adjacent and contacting the base of the right breast, with the upper front portion 35 contacting the upper portion of the breast, the lower front portion 36 contacting the lower portion of the breast, and the intra-breast portion 37 contacting the inner portion of the breast. The right breast band 30 transitions around the torso of the wearer with the ends 33 being brought together and joined such that an overlapping portion 32 is defined that is positioned on the side and back of the wearer when worn. The right breast band 30 is provided with a twist before the ends 33 are joined in the overlapping portion 32 such that opposing sides of the right breast band 30 are in face-to-face contact with each other in the overlapping portion 32 and the upper edge of one of the ends 33 becomes the lower edge of the other end 33 in the overlapping portion 32. In this manner the band 30 readily conforms to the body contours of the wearer and the inner edge of the oval portion 31 of the band 30 is angled forward and outward relative to the outer edge so as to comfortably conform to the contour of the breast.

A left side shoulder strap 40, preferably length adjustable in known manner, is provided, the left side shoulder strap 40 having a front end 41 joined to the upper front portion 25 of the left breast band 20 and a rear end 42 joined to the overlapping portion 22 of the left breast band 20 by any suitable means such as stitching, hooks, etc., for example. A right side shoulder strap 50, preferably length adjustable in known manner, is provided, the right side shoulder strap 50 having a front end 51 joined to the upper front portion 35 of the right breast band 30 and a rear end 52 joined to the overlapping portion 32 of the right breast band 30 by any suitable means such as stitching, hooks, etc., for example. The front ends 41/51 are preferably joined to the upper portions 25/35 at locations that promote outward separation of the breasts when the device is worn.

A pair of cross or intra-breast members, a lower cross member 61 and an upper cross member 62, are joined to the intra-breast portions 27/37 so as extend between the oval portions 21/31 of the bands 20/30, such that the cross members 61/62 are positioned across the intra-breast area when the device is worn. The bands 20/30 and the cross members 61/62 are made of elastic material for comfort, control and functionality, with the elastic resistance or tensile strength of the bands 20/30 being greater than the elastic resistance or tensile strength of the cross members 61/62, such that when the bra is worn the cross members 20/30 are easily stretched when the oval portions 21/31 of the bands 20/30 are pulled apart laterally. For comfort, each band 20/30 is preferably formed as a relatively wide member, with a width of about 1.5 to 2 inches having been found to be suitable. The cross members 61/62 are significantly thinner, a width of about ⅜ inches having been found to be suitable. It is essential that the cross members 61/62 stretch so that the oval portions 21/31 of the bands 20/30 are pulled laterally away from each other when the bra is worn, as it is the separation of the breasts that pulls and tightens the skin in the intra-breast region of the wearer.

Use of a pair of cross members 61/62 is more comfortable by allowing for more exposed skin. Preferably, the cross members 61/62 are positioned such that the lower cross member 61 is situated roughly on the horizontal midline of the breasts and the upper cross member 62 is situated above the lower cross member 61 between the upper portion of the breasts when the device is worn. With this structure each band 20/30 substantially encircles a breast at, adjacent or near the base before extending around the torso to be joined together on the back of the wearer. The bands 20/30 pull each breast laterally outward and away from the intra-breast area, thereby maintaining the skin in the intra-breast area in a flat and tensioned status to prevent or reduce skin wrinkling. By providing elasticity in both the torso straps 20/30 and the cross members 61/62, the comfort of the bra is maximized without sacrificing the necessary separation forces to minimize or eliminate wrinkling, regardless of whether the wearer is supine or laying on one side.

It is understood that equivalents and substitutions for elements set forth in the description above may be obvious to those of skill in the art, and therefore the true scope and definition of the invention is to be as set forth in the following claims. 

I claim:
 1. A cupless bra comprising: a pair of bands, each said band comprising a pair of ends joined to form an overlapping portion, each said band further comprising an upper front portion, an intra-breast portion and a lower front portion which in combination define an oval portion with an open area; a lower cross member and an upper cross member extending between said intra-breast portions of said bands; a pair of shoulder straps joined to said bands; and a releasable fastener mechanism to releasably connect together said bands; wherein said bands and said lower cross member and said upper cross member are elastic, and the tensile strength of said bands is greater than the tensile strength of said lower cross member and said upper cross member, such that when said cupless is bra is worn said oval portions of said bands are pulled apart laterally.
 2. The cupless bra of claim 1, wherein each said band is twisted such that opposing sides of each said band are in face-to-face contact with each other within said overlapping portion.
 3. The cupless bra of claim 2, wherein each said band is approximately 1.5 to 2 inches in width and said lower and said upper cross members are each approximately ⅜ inches in width.
 4. The cupless bra of claim 1, wherein each said band is twisted such that the upper edge of one said end becomes the lower edge of the other said end in said overlapping portion.
 5. The cupless bra of claim 4, wherein each said band is approximately 1.5 to 2 inches in width and said lower and said upper cross members are each approximately ⅜ inches in width.
 6. A cupless bra comprising: a left breast band, said left breast band comprising a pair of ends joined to form an overlapping portion, and further comprising an upper front portion, an intra-breast portion and a lower front portion which in combination define an oval portion with an open area adapted to receive a left breast; a right breast band, said right breast band comprising a pair of ends joined to form an overlapping portion, and further comprising an upper front portion, an intra-breast portion and a lower front portion which in combination define an oval portion with an open area adapted to receive a right breast; a lower cross member and an upper cross member extending between said intra-breast portions of said left breast band and said right breast band; a left shoulder strap joined to said left breast band and a right shoulder strap joined to said right breast band; a releasable fastener mechanism to releasably connect together said left breast band and said right breast band; wherein said left breast band, said right breast band, said lower cross member and said upper cross member are elastic, and the tensile strength of said left breast band and said right breast band is greater than the tensile strength of said lower cross member and said upper cross member, such that when said cupless is bra is worn said oval portions of said bands are pulled apart laterally.
 7. The cupless bra of claim 6, wherein said left breast band is twisted such that opposing sides of said left breast band are in face-to-face contact with each other within said overlapping portion, and wherein said right breast band is twisted such that opposing sides of said right breast band are in face-to-face contact with each other within said overlapping portion.
 8. The cupless bra of claim 7, wherein said left breast band and said right breast band are approximately 1.5 to 2 inches in width and said lower cross member and said upper cross member are each approximately ⅜ inches in width.
 9. The cupless bra of claim 6, wherein said left breast band is twisted such that the upper edge of one said end becomes the lower edge of the other said end in said overlapping portion, and wherein said right breast band is twisted such that the upper edge of one said end becomes the lower edge of the other said end in said overlapping portion.
 10. The cupless bra of claim 9, wherein said left side band and said right side band are approximately 1.5 to 2 inches in width and said lower cross member and said upper cross member are each approximately ⅜ inches in width. 